Help me over a hump

leehayes

leehayes

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Everyone, I'm sure that this is something most of you have dealt with.
I have been playing a couple of years and am right around a SL 5/6 in APA 8 ball. Recently I decided that I would change that and work to be more of a 6/7 or a solid 7. I joined 2 BCA leagues and am doing well in both but I started really practicing. Playing 6 days a week and on Friday Saturday and Sundays I have been practicing and playing between 3 and 6 hours each day. This Saturday I was practicing and then picked up a straight pool game with a guy in the hall. I never played straight pool before. Anyway. I won two games against the guy( who I was told was a pretty good player) and then he left and I went back to playing 8 ball. 2 more hours of playing Saturday then another 4 hours playing Sunday and it seemed like I forgot how to play. Missing easy shots, hard time getting position, scratching, shooting too hard, too soft, etc. Any idea what this is from? Am I taking myself too serious? Playing too much? Any thoughts? Do I need a break?
Play more? Play for money?
 
Go to a good tournament. Derby City is in January. Watch the great players play.

Evaluate the shots you miss, concentrate on them.

I like the gambling aspect to raise your game. I played last night. My opponent was on the hill. I had an extremely awkward shot (jacked up over a ball far uptable). If I missed, my opponent was out and won the $$$. This definitely had to be my best shot of the night. I made it, got position, and ran out. Knowing the importance of each shot will help you to focus everytime you come to the table.

I am by no means a great player and would like to hear more advice from others, but this is how I have improved tremendously in the last year.
 
leehayes said:
Any idea what this is from? Am I taking myself too serious? Playing too much? Any thoughts? Do I need a break?
Play more? Play for money?
Click to expand...

Your tired. Especially if your not used to playing so often.
 
Gamble. The reason why gambling is good is it keeps preasure on each shot. Also larger tournaments help. Sometimes in tournaments you will pick yourself to be a loser in a match however and not give a 100% which doesn't happen when you can match up gambling.
 
Cameron's on to something. You can get tired, both physically & mentally. Mix a little boredom in there and your "game" will plummet. This is why Minnesota Fats only played late at night in Johnston City. He'd sleep all evening and show up fresh as a daisy to steal the cash from the warriors that had been there all day.

If I play past about 10pm I start playing very poorly. I get physically tired and my mind goes with it. Even mundane shots & situations become problematic. Every match I lost at State last spring was late at night.

As discussed above, gambling's a great motivator too.
 
hey, I appreciate the help. I was definitely tired both days...mostly mentally. It was a huge jump in the amount of time playing lately. I'm going to try a couple of tournaments and even some cash games because I play much much better under pressure. I wasn't bored but playing with my wife is certainly not much of a challenge.
 
give it a rest.

Step back and take a fresh breath. Do something that takes your mind completely off the game. You need to give your mind some time to assimilate all that your have learned. The learning cycle wants it in short doses and with intervals of rest.
After a relatively short break you will be amazed at where your game is.
 
Thanks so much. I have a match tomorrow night and I think I'll take a break til Friday.
 
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